Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-01-05
A Country Wedding in Georgia.
HAND-sHAKINes, s'GIvE YOU JoYING" AND
CONGRATULATIONS.

HAND-sHAKINes, s'GIvE YOU JoYINe" AM
CONGRATULATIONS.
| 'Says Moll to her mother: I long to get mar
ried,
And I would get married If / knew the way
1t makes me SO sorry to seen myself single,
And marriage so pretty I've heard people
say"
Somehow this old ditty rings in my ears.
and it brings back to my mind a grand
wedding attended, no matter how man.
years ago. 1t was piny-woods wedding.
and was just such one as those rough and
ready old farmers are wont to give wher
celebrating the marriage of favoritt
daughter to some favorlte suitor. 1t was
in November, happy month, when summer
toll is over and the winter frolics begin.
The groom prospective was youth OF
few mplishments, but lots of fun in his
makeup. This young man had courted the
woman of his choice for a whole year.
They ha6 met at a party the winter before,
danced together, f1irted little, and finally
got so coor-blind that they could see but
one object in the whole world that was
beautiful and good. Of course there were
rival lovers, and in the silver-skyed spring
and the golden summer they had theil
little tiffs and their little make-ups, each
tiff making each makeup doubly sweet.
Through that long, dreary autumn his
black pony had been tied to the old red
oak in front Of the gate nearly every Sun
day evening, and every now and then We'd
nesday evening would find him there.
Obi how sweet is love. What barren
sahara Of soul must inhabit the mar
whose hearts deepest well-springs were
never stirred by the angel touch Of love.
A man forgets his follies when his silly
sayings are sanctified by the touch of love.
The sun rises in silver mist and sets in a
sea Of gold. The untutored spirit grows
gentle and the untutOred touch is tender
when loves caresses time the heart-beats.
Thus the love of this simple pair deepered
into the divinity of marriage. Drawn to-
gether by an irresistible magnetism, the
two channels sweetly stole beneath the myr-
tie boughs and united in one deep and un-
fathomable channel. True, they knew of
ripples, eddies and counter currents, but as
well they knew whittier the one broad cur
rent must tend.
The skies were of deep, deep blue, like
the immeasurable depths or the eye of an
innocent child, and the sun dropped down
toward the horizon with many a good smile
on his ruddy face. The tall pine trees
sighed softly, and their branches stirred,
and dropping low, whispered benediction.
Birds, whose summer songs were hushed,
broke forth afresb as the young man rode
slowly along toward the home of his be-
trothed. The old wooden bridge was
reached, and the young man paused an in
stant to catch the low murmur of the
waters as they rippled with holy mirth.
Out of his revelry the young man was
startled by clatter at the top of the hill
beyond, and down the winding road cav
alcade of country lads came galloping to
meet him. That was one of their customs,
and with much noise and jollity they greet
ed the groom.
In few minutes the column was formed,
with the groom and his best man in front,
and it was "wboop! and awayr AS the
breast of the hill was reached the sun
flashed forth a parting smile of gladness
and went down behind the tree-clad ridges
far away. A turn in the road, and then a
long avenue betwe en- walls of trees, and
right merrily clatter ed the hoof beats as the
happy party continued at hard gallop.
Suddenly sharp turn brought the horse
men in view of the venerable homestead,
old and gray, where the venerable master.
old and gray, had bred half dozen stall
wart sons and several blooming daughters,
one Of whom=was now blushing red as she
sly]y peeped from window to see if her
lover was there.
1t was one of their quaint old supersti-
tions that the bride must not see the groom
as he came down the road, and so the laugh
ing bridesmaids pulled and tugged at the
poor helpless bride until they got her away
from the window. In the broad piazza
were futtering skirts and laughing faces,
for maid and matron Joined with an equal
zest in the merry making. One enjoyed
the pleasure of a past scene SO sweet to her
memory, another anticipated future scene
so sweet to contemplate. Rugged men
with long boards and grizzled locks stood
about the gate to welcome the yonng man,
and all around and about were faces-glad,
eager faces; happy, hopeful faces; grave
and manly faces; faces with mothery wrink-
les; faces with the pink and white of girl
hood on their soft cheeks.
] can see the groom as he dismounts with
a spring, puts his hands in his pockets,
takes them out again, puts them in again,
changes his feet, scratches his head and
spits. All! these mocking faces, those iok-
ing faces, those sly and winking faces,
those droll, suggestive faces! Inside the
gate he is walking with friend, the dear
old friend to whom he contided all his
troubles and trials of courtship, at his side.
Up the steps, across the piazza, where
black eyes, blue and gray, are gazing at him
f ON two solid walls of faces. Through
the hall, and then-shall we follow him?
She is there. He needs no plotting. In
stinctively he knows where she is. Beside
her he is seated. There are those cruel
bridesmaids and those inquisitive attend
ants, those awkward companions; every
thing is embarrassing, and-oh, if it was
not for-there! l like to have told tiff it
were not for her, he would like to be dead.
And the tender little heart so near him,
sun goes speeding through the hour-glass;
SO true, SO tender, so loving. How it beats!
Like the ticking of a watch. Can you
hear it? She imagines you can hear it,
and the thought drives the warm blood up
ward, and the cheek grows as red as the
sunset skies, and the snowy neck is bathed
in dyes as soft, as bright, as a summer
dawn.
Beat on, happy heart Flutter like some
wild bird toward your rightful nest. The
cage is waiting. and soon thou shalt find
thy home. "All is ready" whispers q
messenger, and then there is much fixing,
much brushing in a shy way, and much
smoothing out and much shufaing of feet,
and then the party start on that long and
peiilous journey. They are going to be
married under the old apple-tree in the
snowy white yard What need for witness
es? Do not the bright and solemn stars
gaze softly down from the distant depths
of heaven, beaming benisons on the happy
fulflllment of guileless love. What need